Collectable card display frame

ABSTRACT

A frame for displaying encased sports cards and the like with a glass pane, a pre-frame of wood or plastic having a cutout port for each card encased in an inflexible transparent plastic card holder, and an inflexible cardboard backing layer. Up to one hundred cards may be encased within the frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to frames. More specifically, the invention is directed to frame kits for displaying sports cards, individually encased in transparent plastic card holders, and framed in singular or multiple units.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The displaying and collecting of favorite sports cards or non-sports cards is known, but normally cards are put in binder books with clear plastic or cellophane leaves having pockets. However, the exhibition of framed sports or non-sports cards in a framed condition have not been described. Moreover, the pre-packaging of the cards in individual inflexible plastic card holders before mounting in frames have not heretofore been described. There is a need for a card collector to enhance one's collection to exhibit the cards in attractive frames on a wall of one's home, for example.

[0005] The relevant art of interest describes various card display frames, but none describe the present invention. The relevant art will be discussed in the order of perceived relevance to the present invention.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,651,202 issued on Jul. 29, 1997, to Harold O. Hewitt describes an expandable metal display device and a sports card holder arranged in the frame. A single rectangular frame unit has a primary metal backing member with upper and lower integral frame members attachable to the backing member by screws with ends which are inwardly beveled. A pair of side frame members are screwed to the other frame members. No glass cover is disclosed. A plurality of rectangular frame units are connected along their lengths and/or sides by appropriate side frame members with different outwardly beveled frame ends. The card holders are arranged by abutting each other to fill the frame in rows and columns. A second embodiment of a transparent card holder comprises two joined transparent rectangular sides having an access notch in the front and two magnetic strips underneath to attach the holder to the metal backing members. The frame is distinguishable for its manifold parts involving separate frame members with different beveled end portions which must be screwed together. The card holder is distinguishable for its two dissimilar parts which must have magnetic strips for mounting on the metal backing panels in the metal frame.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,436 issued on Aug. 13, 1996, to Jay Lefkowitz describes a multi-photo display apparatus having transparent compartments arranged in columnar form in display panels with access slots for each compartment. The first embodiment employs a series of rigid vertical display panels hinged with hinge pins in order to fold in an accordion fashion. The second embodiment employs rigid display panels with snap fit connections for attaching the front and rear panels. The multi-photo display apparatus is distinguishable for its folding requirement of several display panels.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,584 issued on Jan. 22, 1974, to Sheldon Holson describes a wood display frame with a metallic back for temporarily exhibiting photographic prints by magnetic attachment. The flexible magnets containing magnetic particles in polyethylene are attached to a flexible base by a first adhesive and the base attached to a photograph by a second adhesive with a peelable or removable quality. No glass cover is disclosed. The display frame is distinguish-able for its magnetic means for attaching the photographs in the frame.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,062 issued on May 30, 1995, to Russell E. Polinski et al. describes a sports card frame in the shape of an article used in a particular sport including open pockets to hold the sports cards in an arrangement peculiar to a specific sport. The frame can be in an exemplary shape of a baseball home plate having a top hanger and a triangular bottom. The solid sports card frame is distinguishable for its open pocket holder arrangement.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,062 issued on Mar. 2, 1992, to Mike F. Palka describes a transparent, plastic, and flexible upright display device for holding and exhibiting business cards in open-topped pockets arranged in rows and columns with three flanges (two on sides and a bottom) per pocket. The display device is distinguishable for its open pockets.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,125 issued on Feb. 5, 1985, to Daniel M. Hutchinson describes a square- or circular-shaped blocks for forming a wall display device for holding square record albums on a wall. Each block has a pair of grooves on each vertical side with the inner groove of each pair being blind and the outer pair of grooves extending the length of the vertical sides. The blocks are adhesively adhered to a wall in a pattern of rows and columns. The wall display device is distinguishable for its blocked arrangement being permanently positioned on a wall.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 3,523,382 issued on Aug. 11, 1970, to Ronald L. Dreyer describes a variable picture frame assembly comprising a main large frame securing individual rectangular frames of the same size having a photograph encased between a front glass pane and a backing compressed by a rear resilient clamp. Each individual frame has mounting slots in the frame for securing adjacent individual frames with locking pins. The variable picture frame assembly is distinguishable for its slotted individual frames required for joining with abutting individual frames.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,097,953 issued on Mar. 24, 1992, to Paul Gingras describes an individual card holding device comprising two interlocking transparent plastic frame sections. The upper half frame section has a raised central portion which presses against a sports card secured in an inner frame portion (with indented corners) of the lower half frame section. The individual card holding device is distinguishable for its two-sectioned frame.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,249,383 issued on Oct. 5, 1993, to Leo McCusker et al. describes a card display holder and protector device comprising a transparent polyvinyl or polystyrene case having a front section and a rear section attached on top but open at the bottom. The bottom portion of the case has a recessed portion with or without a transparent panel for insertion of an information item. A card holder can be mounted on a base. The case can have holes on top and on the side for attachment to the rings of a conventional album. A plurality of cases with interlocking coupling edges can be arranged in abutting relationship with each other and to a linear plastic mounting member with holes for mounting in a ringed binder. The card display holder is distinguishable for its two-section structure and the separate bottom display panel for inserting information items.

[0015] French Patent Application No. 1.325.619 published on Mar. 25, 1963, for M. Guy Champmoreau describes, as best understood, a metal frame and backing for mounting documents by magnetic means. The frame is rotatable about a vertical or horizontal axis by a bracket attached to a ceiling or a wall, respectively. The frame is distinguishable for its rotatability and magnetic mounting of documents.

[0016] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Sports cards and the like can be displayed in various sized frames to show a specific number of cards individually encased in inflexible transparent holders. The rectangular frame is metal, preferably, and holds a glass pane, a pre-frame made of either wood or plastic with cutouts for each encased card, and a cardboard backing.

[0018] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide collector's cards in attractive frames.

[0019] It is another object of the invention to provide collector's cards encased in individual inflexible transparent holders mounted in a frame.

[0020] It is a further object of the invention to provide encased collector's cards in frames varying in size with one or a plurality of card ports.

[0021] Still another object of the invention is to provide colored metal frames with glass panes to protect the encased collector's cards.

[0022] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0023] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024]FIG. 1 is an environmental, elevational view of a collectable card display frame holding only a single encased sports card according to the present invention.

[0025]FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view across and through the invention as shown in FIG. 1.

[0026]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a ten-card holder frame embodiment of the invention.

[0027]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of an individual sports card inside its transparent case.

[0028] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present invention is directed to a combination frame and mounted encased cards device 10 comprising at least one rectangular card 12 encased in an inflexible transparent rectangular plastic case 14, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. In FIG. 4, the card 12 can be sealed between two thermoplastic layers in the corners 16 and along the edges 18. FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the device 10 having a rectangular metal picture frame 20, preferably colored, containing a rectangular, transparent (e.g., glass) pane 22, an intermediate white or colored rectangular wood or plastic pre-frame layer 24 with at least one cutout port 26 for nesting the at least one plastic case 14, and a rectangular, relatively inflexible backing layer 28 such as cardboard.

[0030]FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement of 10 cards 12 encased in cases 14 mounted within cutout ports 26 and protected by a colored metal frame 20 and a glass pane 22. Up to 100 cards 12 in a single frame 20 are contemplated.

[0031] The cards 12 are nominally 2.5 in. by 3.5 in. in size and encased in 2{fraction (11/16)} in. by 3{fraction (11/16)} in. card protectors 14. The metal frame 20 can be made from {fraction (1/32)} in. thick stock and bent to form two flanges 30 (FIG. 2). The glass pane 22 can be {fraction (3/32)} in. thick. The pre-frame layer 24 can be {fraction (7/32)} in. thick. The backing layer 28 can be cardboard {fraction (1/16)} in. in thickness.

[0032] Thus, an inexpensive but durable frame and card holder kit can be supplied to exhibit a number of cards which are protected by transparent and sealed covers and mounted attractively in ports of a pre-framing layer framed by an attractive colored metal frame.

[0033] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A combination frame and encased cards device comprising: an inflexible transparent rectangular plastic case, at least one rectangular card encased in said inflexible transparent rectangular plastic case; and a rectangular metal picture frame comprising a rectangular transparent pane, an intermediate rectangular fibrous pre-frame layer with at least one cutout port for said plastic case, and a rectangular, relatively inflexible, backing layer.
 2. The combination device according to claim 1, including up to one hundred cards in individual cases, arranged to be displayed within the frame.
 3. The combination device according to claim 2, wherein there are two rows of six cards arranged within the frame.
 4. The combination device according to claim 1, wherein the pre-frame is made of one of wood and plastic.
 5. The combination device according to claim 1, wherein said transparent pane is made of glass.
 6. The combination device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said backing layer is made of cardboard.
 7. The combination device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two thermoplastic layers sealing and sandwiching said card therebetween.
 8. A combination frame and encased cards device comprising: an inflexible transparent rectangular plastic case, at least one rectangular card encased in said inflexible transparent rectangular plastic case; and a rectangular metal picture frame comprising a rectangular glass pane, an intermediate rectangular fibrous pre-frame layer made of one of wood and plastic, with at least one cutout port for said plastic case, and a rectangular, relatively inflexible, cardboard backing layer.
 9. The combination device according to claim 8, including up to one hundred cards in individual cases, arranged to be displayed within the frame.
 10. The combination device according to claim 8, wherein there are two rows of six cards arranged within the frame.
 11. A combination frame and encased cards device comprising: an inflexible transparent rectangular plastic case, at least one rectangular card encased in said inflexible transparent rectangular plastic case, there further being two thermoplastic layers sealing and sandwiching said card therebetween; and a rectangular metal picture frame comprising a rectangular glass pane, an intermediate rectangular fibrous pre-frame layer made of one of wood and plastic, with at least one cutout port for said plastic case, and a rectangular, relatively inflexible, cardboard backing layer.
 12. The combination device according to claim 11, including up to one hundred cards in individual cases, arranged to be displayed within the frame.
 13. The combination device according to claim 11, wherein there are two rows of six cards arranged within the frame. 